NRL League Touch 2026 – Join the Excitement: South East Melbourne’s Ultimate Non-Contact Rugby League Competition!

NRL League Touch 2026 returns! The Pakenham Eels Rugby League Club and Touch Association are thrilled to deliver another incredible season of this fast-paced, action-packed format of Rugby League.

Due to massive demand and rapid growth of NRL League Touch across Cardinia Shire, the City of Casey, and surrounding areas, we have officially expanded to four timeslots for the 2026. The action kicks off under the lights on Friday, 18th of September 2026, at our premier home ground, Comely Banks Recreation Reserve in Officer.

In addition we are now rleasing further expansion into Thurday nights with our specifc junior competition structures for Under 8’s, Under 10’s and Under 12’s mixed grades. Action kicks off on Thursday, 24th of September 2026, with two weeks or training and game introduction the 6 week round robin competition.

The Home of Rugby League & Touch in South East Melbourne

Whether you’re living in our primary growth hubs like Clyde North, Pakenham, and Officer, or coming from surrounding Casey suburbs, including Berwick, Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Hampton Park, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst, Botanic Ridge, and Hallam, the Pakenham Eels are your premier local club.

We also proudly welcome players from across the wider Cardinia Shire, from Beaconsfield, Nar Nar Goon, Bunyip, and Garfield, down to Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang, all the way up to the foothills of Emerald, Cockatoo, and Gembrook. Located right on the border of Cardinia and Casey, our state-of-the-art facilities at Comely Banks Reserve make it easier than ever for local families, junior players, and adults across the entire region to get involved.

2026 Season Overview – Mixed Social, Open Mixed & Open Men’s

• Season Start: Round 1 – Friday, 18th of September 2026
• Format: 10 Regular Rounds
• Finals: 3-week finals series (Top 6 teams)
• Match Intervals: 50-minute turnarounds
• Location: Comely Banks Recreation Reserve, 125 Bridge Road, Officer VICRegistration & Fees
• Team registration is 100% FREE. Individual players register directly to their team or join as an individual free agent.
• Competition Fee: $120.00
• VIC State Annual Membership: $30.00
• National TFA Annual Membership: $30.00
• Total Individual Cost: $180.00

Friday Competition Grades & Schedule

Timeslot	Kick-off Time	Featured Grade
1	6:00 PM	Mixed Social
2	6:50 PM	Mixed Social / Open Mixed
3	7:40 PM	Open Mixed / Open Men’s
4	8:30 PM	Open Men’s

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NRL League Touch 2026 – Mixed Social

• Timeslots: 6:00 PM & 6:50 PM
• Ages: 11+ (Male and Female)
• Prize Pool: N/A
• Details: Designed for families, workmates, and friends looking for fun, fitness, and friendly competition. Mixed Social teams require a minimum of 2 female players on the field at all times. (Teams deemed too competitive will be regraded to Open Mixed after Round 2).

REGISTER YOUR TEAM HERE – https://bit.ly/NRL_League_Touch_2026_Mixed_Social

REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER HERE – https://bit.ly/2026_MixedSocial_IndPlayer

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NRL League Touch 2026 – Open Mixed

• Timeslot: 6:50 PM & 7:40 PM
• Ages: 13+ (Male and Female)
• Prize Pool: $3,000 ($2,000 Winner | $1,000 Runner-Up)
• Details: Step up the intensity! Open Mixed requires a minimum of 3 female players on the field at all times.

REGISTER YOUR TEAM HERE – https://bit.ly/NRL_League_Touch_2026_OpenMixed

REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER HERE – https://bit.ly/2026_OpenMixed_IndPlayer

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NRL League Touch 2026 – Open Men’s

• Timeslot: 8:30 PM
• Ages: 13+ (Male)
• Prize Pool: $3,000 ($2,000 Winner | $1,000 Runner-Up)
• Details: High-speed Friday night footy under the lights. Top-flight competition battling for bragging rights and a share of the $3,000 cash pool.

REGISTER YOUR TEAM HERE – https://bit.ly/NRL_League_Touch_2026_OpenMens

REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER HERE – https://bit.ly/2026_Open_Mens_IndPlayer

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Registration for Individual Players (Free Agents)

Don’t have a full team? No worries at all! We are taking direct registrations for Individual Players (Free Agents) across all adult grades so see the links above.

Whether you’ve just moved into Clyde North, Cranbourne East, or Officer South, or you’re a long-time local from Endeavour Hills, Beaconsfield Upper, or Narre Warren South, registering as an individual is the best way to jump into the competition. We will place you in a friendly, welcoming team that matches your skill level and social goals.

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Junior Competitions (U8, U10, U12) – Register Your Interest!

We are building the future of Rugby League and Touch in the Cardinia and Casey region! Following our highly successful Expression of Interest (EOI) phase, our official junior program details are now confirmed.

We are calling on everyone to enter a junior team! Whether it’s an existing winter rugby league squad looking to stay fit, a group of mates from school, or neighborhood kids wanting to play together, this is the perfect safe, non-contact summer sport. If you have young athletes in Clyde North, Pakenham, Officer, Berwick, Cranbourne North, or any surrounding suburb, we want to see them on the field.

Parents, we’d love your help! We highly encourage you to get involved and nominate yourself as a Team Manager or Coach for your kids’ squad! If you dont have a team, please register as an individual player and we will assign you to a team for the 6 week competition.

REGISTER YOUR TEAM HERE

U8s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnr_u8

U10s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnr_U10

U12s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnr_U12

REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER HERE

U8s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnrU8_IndPlayer

U10s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnrU10_IndPlayer

U12s – https://bit.ly/2026_NRL_LeagueTouch_jnrU12_IndPlayer

The Junior Season Structure

To make sure everyone gets the hang of the game, we’ve structured the junior competition to focus on learning, development, and fun:

• Introduction & Training Weeks (Starts Sept 24): Kicking off on the 24th of September at 6:30 PM, the first two weeks will be dedicated to introduction and training. Teams will learn the rules, practice their skills, and run through game simulations with real referees. While not compulsory, it is highly encouraged for any newly formed teams or squads entering from outside the Pakenham Eels to attend these first two sessions.
• Official Competition (Starts Oct 8): From the 8th of October, teams will be officially drawn into the competition to play against each other. The focus remains on learning via the game!

Junior Game Format & Rules

U8s Leniency: Standard NRL League Touch rules apply across the grades; however, our Under 8s matches will be officiated with much more leniency. The ultimate goal is to let the kids play freely, learn the basics, and just have fun!

Match Length: 2 x 20-minute halves to give the kids maximum exposure and game time.

Team Size: Squad sizes are capped at 14 players per team.

On the Field: Matches are played with 8 players on the field at any given time (9 players for u7s and u8s).

Registration & Fees

Team registration is 100% FREE. Individual players register directly to their team or join as an individual free agent.

• Junior Competition Fee: $60.00
• VIC State Annual Membership: $30.00
• National TFA Annual Membership: $30.00
• Total Individual Cost: $120.00

Key Player Rules:

• Finals Eligibility: No Finals Series for these grades.
• Team Uniforms: Not Compulsorary

Don’t miss out on South East Melbourne’s premier touch football competition. Grab your team, sign up as an individual, or get your juniors ready for an unforgettable summer!